Trap



L. J. PURLEE Feb. 20, 1951 TRAP Filed Jan, 2, 1946 Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAP Lemuel J. Purlee, collisviue, 1u.

Application January 2, 1946, Serial No. 638,639

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to traps and has relation more particularly to a device of this kind especially designed for use in the capture of furbearing animals although it can be employed with equal facility for the capture of rodents.

It is an object of the invention to provide a trap of an impaling or smiting type and of a character whereby the trap may be employed with equal facility in the capture of animals of different sizes within, of course, certain limitations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap of this kind embodying a mechanism whereby the impaling or smiting element may be eifectively held in set position and in a manner to assure quick release.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a trap which eliminates the need of using bait and which is strictly humane in its action and which can be employed with equal advantage in any desired position, either on land or under water,

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved trap whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation of a trap constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, with portions broken away;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the device as illustrated in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the trigger supporting arm.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, A denotes what may be termed a xed or base jaw of desired length and of a channel construction. The side flanges I of this jaw A have their free longitudinal margins formed to provide the teeth 2 to facilitate the action of this jaw A.

The extremities of the jaw A have operatively engaged therewith the ring-like or loop members 3 with which the pegs 4 or other elements may be engaged for maintaining the trap in desired position. As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the trap is shown as in a substantially vertical position although, in practice, the trap will operate with the same advantage irrespective of its arrangement on land or under water.

Rigid with the opposite end portions of the intermediate part 5 of the jaw A, as by weldingor otherwise as may be preferred, are the elongated and substantially parallel bars 6. These bars 6 are of desired length and are substantially at right angles to the jaw A and have their outer extremities connected by an intermediate cross member 1, preferably integral therewith. In other words, it is found of advantage to form the bars G and intermediate member 1 from one Outwardly of the jaw B, and herein disclosed as in relatively close proximity to the intermediate member 1, the bars 6 are provided thereon with the rigid surrounding stops II, and interposed between each of these stops II and the adjacent end of the jaw B is an expansible member I2, herein disclosed as a coiled spring surrounding a bar 6.

As the jaw B is moved along the bars 6 away from the jaw A, the members `or springs I2 will be placed under tension and said springs are of such size to effectively impale a captive between the jaws A and B with such force as to substantially assure instant death.

The intermediate part 8 of the jaw B at substantially the longitudinal center thereof has rigidly secured thereto an elongated flat member I 4 from the central portion of which is struck an outstanding nger I5 to provide means to facilitate the setting of the jaw B in its open position with respect to the jaw A.

The outer extremity of the member I4 has operatively engaged therewith as at I6, an end portion of a trigger finger I1 which has swinging or rocking movement in a direction lengthwise of the member I4. This finger I1, when the trap is set, extends through an elongated slot I8 provided in a trigger supporting arm I9 carpivotally supported intermediate its length, as at 2l, on the outer extremity of an outstanding foot-piece 22 carried by the arm I9.

The inner extremity of the trigger 2) is continued by an inwardly and laterally inclined member 23, preferably integral therewith, and which member 23 is of material length and terminates in a second elongated straight member 2i, herein disclosed as arranged on an obtuse angle with respect to the member 23 which is also preferably straight.

When the jaw B is set with the nger I1 in proper engagement with the trigger'Zi), the mem- Y ber 2&5 is closely adjacent to one of the bars 6 butwithin the space between the two bars so that as an animal endeavors to pass betweenthebars 6, the contact of the victim with `the member 2liV will swing the same in a direction to move the trigger out of engagement with the finger I 1,'

allowing the jaw B to be driven toward the ja l iA `te Asecure thevictim therebetween.

`It.=i-s to be'lstated that vthe trap is to be placed in Suche Ymanner-as to make it reasonably sure -that .the victim willfendeavor topass between-,the bars 6.

The intermediatemember `i -at its centralpor- 1tion carries an -eye member 25 to provide a -f-urther means for securing the trap in desired position vas through 4the `instrumentalityof Aa wire kor other flexible or pliable member andthersecurement of :thiseyeymember 25 tothe Ymember -1 is Ysuch ,as :to assure the :'Inaintenance of -the arm 19in desired positionon vthe member -r1.

Erom the foregoing description vit is thought 'to be obvious thata trapconstructed in accordj ance witlilniy invention isparticularly well adapted -fo'rynse by reason of the convenience and facility -with `,which it may-beassembled and operated.

`the -base jaw, a `striking jaw slidabl-yconnected tothe bars, vexpansible means for urging Ythe strikingiaw :toward the Abase jawgza member con- .nectingthe bars upon the sideof the sliding jaw' opposite from the base jaw, a trigger suignporting.;

Marm-carried by the .connecting member and :extending betweenthe bars toward thestriking jaw, lsaid arm having a slot Adisposed lengthwise rthere- 4 0 Vl. Atrap :Comprising a base jawsubstantially ,parallel oars rigid-.withopposite vend gportions of a of, a member carried by the sliding jaw, a trigger nger pivotally connected to the sliding jaw carried member for extension through the slot of the arm, a trigger carried by the arm for releasable engagement with the trigger nger to maintain the sliding jaw in set position, and means carried by the rtrigger for contact by a victim for Yfreeing the trigger from the trigger finger, said trigger finger, when engaged with the trigger, being fulcrumed across the end edge' ofthe slot ofY the arm nearest the jaws.

Y 2. A trap as set forthV in claim 1, wherein the -means for releasing the trigger comprises an Yelongated straight member carried by the trigger and disposed to one side thereof and between `the bars.

3. wAtrap ofthe character described comprising a pair or spaced bar members disposed in substantially parallel relation, a xed jaw connecting adjacent endsoi the bar members, a movable fiawV slidably supported bythe bar members to move longitudinally Ythereof relative tothe `fixed Vjaw, resilient means normally `urgingmovement of the movable jaw toward the -fixed jaw, .a

support connected with the bar -members -upon REFERENCES CITED 'The nfollowing references are of :record `in the le of this patent:V

Y UNITED STATES PATENTS Y Number Name i Y Date 27,967 BuxtonV 1 Apr. 24, 1860 :983,181 Tharp Jan. 31, 191-1 1995,493 Stephens et al. June 20, 1911 1,534,677 stacy May 1-1, 1926 

